Apparatus and method for controlling head lamp of vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for controlling a head lamp of a vehicle. In particular, road information is analyzed which is collected in the vicinity of the vehicle through a sensor to identify a road state. Additionally, information relating a rear vehicle positioned behind the vehicle from the information collected in the vicinity of the vehicle or information obtained through communication between vehicles is analyzed to determine a driving situation of the rear vehicle. Based on this information, a head lamp setting unit sets a control length and a control width of the head lamp based on the road state and the driving situation of the rear vehicle. As a result, a head lamp driving unit drives the head lamp based on the set control length and control width of the head lamp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a head lamp of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a controller including:
 a road information analyzing unit configured to analyze information related to a road on which a vehicle is being driven from information collected in the vicinity of the vehicle through a sensor to recognize a road state; 
 a rear vehicle information analyzing unit configured to analyze information on a rear vehicle positioned behind the vehicle from the information collected in the vicinity of the vehicle or information obtained through communication between vehicles to recognize a driving situation of the rear vehicle; 
 a head lamp setting unit configured to set a control length and a control width of the head lamp based on the road state and the driving situation of the rear vehicle; and 
   a head lamp driving unit configured to operate the head lamp based on the set control length and control width of the head lamp.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the head lamp setting unit sets the control length and the control width of the head lamp according to a driving prediction path and a speed of the rear vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the head lamp driving unit controls driving of the head lamp when the rear vehicle approaches a predetermined distance range of the rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front vehicle information analyzing unit analyzing information relating to a front vehicle positioned in front of the vehicle based on the information collected in the vicinity of the vehicle or information obtained through communication between vehicles to identify a driving situation associated with the front vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the head lamp setting unit sets the control length and the control width of the head lamp by reflecting the driving situation of the front vehicle in the road state and the driving situation of the rear vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the head lamp driving unit controls driving of the head lamp based on at least one of the road state and the driving situation of the front vehicle before the rear vehicle approaches a predetermined distance range from the rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the head lamp setting unit sets the control length and the control width of the head lamp based on the road state and a final position coordinate value of a driving path history of the front vehicle when the rear vehicle is not present. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the head lamp setting unit sets the control length and the control width of the head lamp based on information on a road curvature when the rear vehicle and the front vehicle are not present 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the head lamp setting unit sets the control length and the control width of the head lamp based on a final position coordinate value of a driving path history of the front vehicle or a position of a stop line of the front when the vehicle is in a state in which it waits for a signal at an intersection. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling one or more head lamps of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 analyzing, by a controller, information on a road on which a vehicle is being driven from information collected in the vicinity of the vehicle through a sensor to recognize a road state;   analyzing, by the controller, information relating a rear vehicle positioned behind the vehicle via the information collected in the vicinity of the vehicle or information obtained through communication between vehicles to recognize a driving situation of the rear vehicle;   setting, by the controller, a control length and a control width of the head lamp based on the road state and the driving situation of the rear vehicle; and   operating, by the controller, the one or more head lamps based on the set control length and control width of the head lamp.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein in the setting, the control length and the control width of the head lamp are set according to a driving prediction path and a speed of the rear vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein in the driving, driving of the head lamp is controlled when the rear vehicle approaches or enters a predetermined distance range of the rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising analyzing information on a front vehicle positioned in front of the vehicle from the information collected in the vicinity of the vehicle or information obtained through communication between vehicles to recognize a driving situation of the front vehicle,
 wherein in the setting, the control length and the control width of the head lamp are set based on the road state or a final position coordinate value of a driving path history of the front vehicle when the rear vehicle is not present or before the rear vehicle approaches a predetermined distance range of the rear of the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein in the setting, the control length and the control width of the head lamp are set based on information on a road curvature when the rear vehicle and the front vehicle are not present. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein in the setting, the control length and the control width of the head lamp are set based on a final position coordinate value of a driving path history of the front vehicle or a position of a stop line of the front when the vehicle is in a state in which it waits for a signal at an intersection.